The Sharks appear to be preparing for life without Springboks midfielder Lukhanyo Am after tying two of their highly rated youngsters, Jurenzo Julius and Litelihle Bester, down to long-term contracts.

The word is that the Sharks, who have now got Junior Boks U20 internationals Julius under contract until 2027 and Bester until 2026, don’t think that the 30-year-old Am will stay in Durban beyond the end of this season.

Am, who has made 98 appearances for the Sharks, has spent time in Japan with Kobelco Kobe Steelers and he is likely to head abroad, most likely to France, after seeing the success that Jeremy Ward has had playing for Stade Francais.

England fly-half George Ford will join the family business when he is 35 and finish his career in rugby league with Oldham, according to his dad Mike on the League Express podcast.

The former England, Bath and Leicester Tigers coach says that he has already got the Sale Sharks star’s future planned out – and that includes a spell with the Roughyeds where Ford snr has been involved since a March 2023 buy-in.

“I’m not telling lies. We have sat down and worked out his career. He has just turned 31, so we have gone, ‘This is what you are doing at 32, 33, 34 and 35’ and when he is 35, he will play for Oldham rugby.”

NRL star Joseph Sua’ali’i is set to be fast-tracked into the Wallabies set-up and could be thrown straight into the deep end to make his union debut against England at Twickenham later this year.

The Samoan league international is switching codes when his contract with the Sydney Roosters ends, joining union on a three-year contract worth an estimated A$4.5million (£2.3m), and Joe Schmidt plans to use him straight away.

Reports in Australia are suggesting that the 21-year-old New South Wales State of Origin ace will link up with the Wallabies straight away ahead of the November tour games against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Western Force are the latest club to show an interest in All Blacks full-back Shaun Stevenson as they look to replace Bayley Kuenzle, who suffered a serious knee injury in a club match and will miss a large part of next season.

The 27-year-old Stevenson, who scored a try on his international debut against Australia a year ago, hasn’t featured since then. He has been linked with Irish giants Munster and also had talks with the New Zealand Warriors about an NRL move.